Conservative James Woods tells actress Alyssa Milano to 'buy more ammo' as she urges Americans to stop stockpiling weapons - as gun sales surge during the coronavirus outbreak

Conservative actor James Woods took a swipe at actress Alyssa Milano, telling her to 'buy more ammo' after she urged Americans to stop stockpiling guns during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

On Thursday, Milano, 47,  shared a video to Twitter to encourage her followers to practice gun safety after reports revealed nervous citizens have caused a surge in gun and ammunition sales.

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Actor James Woods (left) told actress Alyssa Milano (right) to 'buy more ammo' after she pushed back against stockpiling guns during the coronavirus outbreak 

'Americans bought over 2 million firearms in March of 2020, over a million more than this time last year. We have to keep each other safe by social distancing and washing our hands and not bringing dangerous firearms into our homes,' she wrote.

'I know we that we are all scared and really stressed out during these uncertain times. But that's exactly why stockpiling weapons could have dire consequences for our personal safety and those around us. '

Alyssa Milano begs Americans not to stockpile guns amid COVID-19

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Milano (pictured): 'I know we that we are all scared and really stressed out during these uncertain times. But that's exactly why stockpiling weapons could have dire consequences...'

Milano added that guns being purchased during the outbreak - which has infected 469,450 and killed 16,715 in the US - could 'end up being used in households, schools, churches, bars and on our streets in the future.'

Woods, 72, who has an ardent pro-gun stance, replied to Milano's plea with a quip. 

'Thank you for the reminder,' he wrote. 'When the looting starts, always be prepared. Buy more ammo!'  

As early as mid-March, people flooded to gun and ammunition shops amid the uncertainty of the pandemic. 

California, New York and Washington - the states hardest hit by the deadly bug - all saw a massive surge in gun sales.

Acording to the The Wall Street Journal, police officers in New York state said burglaries in commercial areas have increased by 75 percent as of March 12, when Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency. 

Some buyers sought to 'protect their families' from looters should food and supplies run out due to coronavirus panic. 

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As the coronavirus spread across the United States, concerned Americans rushed to gun shops to purchase weapons and ammunition 

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Some reasons for the  sudden surge in gun sales comes from people who want to 'protect their families' and Asian Americans who fear possible racial attacks 

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Others feared that the government's emergency powers could restrict their right to buy a gun while some Asian-Americans bought weapons to protect themselves from potential racist attacks. 

Huge lines stretched along the sidewalk outside the Martin B. Retting gun store in Culver City, California.

Another stretch of shoppers was seen outside Gun World in Burbank.

US correspondent for Australian network Nine News Amelia Adams tweeted: 'Queues to buy guns in LA. Buyers tell me they're scared of what will happen if people run out of food and supplies, and they need to protect their families.' 

John Gore, 39, who lined up outside the Martin B. Retting store one Saturday in March, told the LA Times: 'Politicians and anti-gun people have been telling us for the longest time that we don't need guns.

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A worker restocks handguns at Davidson Defense in Orem, Utah on March 20. Gun sales have surged during the coronavirus pandemic 

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A worker inspects an AR-15 gun at Davidson Defense in Orem, Utah, this month

'But right now, a lot of people are truly scared, and they can make that decision themselves.'

Anna - who had never bought a gun before - said: 'It's not like an active panic, more a preoccupation with making sure everyone is adequately prepared, myself and family and friends. 

'Better to be prepared and not need it than need it and not have it.'

Ralph Charette, 71, spent $1,500 at a store in Germantown, Wisconsin and told USA Today: 'There's so much uncertainty and paranoia but you've got to protect your own.'

Gun sales also soared in San Gabriel Valley, Los Angeles, as Asian-Americans feared they could be victims of racist attacks due to coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China.

Arcadia Firearm & Safety David Liu told CBSN that many are fearing for their safety should people in their local area catch the bug.

Online ammunition store Ammo.com said there has been a 68 per cent increase in sales from February 23 - when Italy's major outbreak was first reported.

Donald Trump urged Americans not to stockpile food and told citizens to 'take it easy' on Sunday.

Vice President Mike Pence also insisted that food stores will stay open indefinitely.

Trump also insisted the outbreak is under 'tremendous control'.

The president said the federal, state and local governments are all working with these retail leaders, including Walmart, Costco, Target, Whole Foods, Publix and several more, to ensure there are no shortages of goods and food.